Vending machine



C. G. EWERTZ VENDING MACHINE Jan. 10, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct.24, 1947 fizz/6222302: Clemezzi 6 Ewgriz g 9 Jan. 10, 1950 c. G. EWERTZ2,493,956

VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 24, 1947 e Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 10, 1950 c. a.EWERTZ 2,493,956

VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 24, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 I fizz/22,501":Clemerzi 6 Ezwdz C. G. EWERTZ VENDING MACHINE Jan. 10, 1950 Filed on.24, 194? 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 [221/672 50/".- Ch rms/2% [wzriz C. G. EWERTZVENDING MACHINE Jan. 10, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 24, 1947 HZ 'sfin/72250)": Cleme/zi 6. Ewerlz PatentedJan. 10, 1950 VENDING MACHINEClement G. Ewertz, Des Moines, Iowa, assignor to Col-Snac Corporation,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 24, 1947,Serial No. 781,901

. 21 Claims.

This invention relates to vending machines and particularly that typeemployed for vending ice cream bars or other articles intended to becooled, although the machine is also intended for vending other articleswhich need not be cooled.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of avending machine which is of simple construction and possesses a greatcapacity for articles to be vended.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a vending machine inwhich the operator or customer in withdrawin an article needs to actuatethe vending mechanism only a slight degree for obtaining the desiredarticle.

The vending mechanism includes a plurality of belts trained overpulleys, each belt being provided with a plurality of shelves or cellsfor supporting the articles to be vended. The belts, and the shelvessupported thereby, are in staggered relation with respect to each other.The arrangement is such that the plurality of belts need bemoved only toan extent which is less than the distance between successive shelves onany one belt.

A further object is the provision of such belts and shelves of flexible.and lightweight material to reduce to a minimum the mass of materialwhich is necessary to move in the dispensing operation.

Still another object is the provision of a novel and speciallyconstructed ejector means for ejecting the articles into the dispensingstation. Ejector means are provided for each of the belts and thecorresponding shelves and all move in unison.

The minimum extent of movement of the dispensing mechanism in the vendinoperation as referred to above is the result of a specially timedrelationship between the movements of the shelves carrying the articles,and the ejector means. In the vending operation, the ejector means isactuated at the same time and by the same operation as the respectiveshelves from which the articles are to be ejected. This fea turecontrasts with previous types of vending machines in which the tworespective movements occur at different times with consequent increasein the operations necessary for vending the articles.

Still another object of the invention is the provision'of speciallyconstructed shelves which are open ended, but are employed in a space inthe cabinet of the machine in such a manner that the interior wall ofthe space cooperates with the shelves to form effectively closed cells.

2 The articles thus are retained from falling out of the cells.

Another object is the provision of a vending machine having a cabinet inwhich the major part of the vending mechanism may be inserted andremoved as a unit.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a specialmanual operating member for advancing the vending mechanism forpmitioning successive shelves in position for ejecting the articlestherefrom into the dispensing station; this operating member iscontrolled by a conventional type of coin control mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for renderingthe coin control mechanism ineffective so that a serviceman can utilizethe operating member for rotating the shelves and placing them inposition for loading them.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a signal means toindicate when the machine is empty of articles to be vended. The signalmeans is actuated by a trip member detachably secured to one of theshelves for supporting the articles. The detachable trip 'member can beattached to any of the shelves so that when the device is loaded witharticles to be vended the trip device can be so positioned on any of theshelves so that the signal means will be caused to give the propersignal at any desired point in the cycle of movement of the'shelves.

A still further object is the provision of novel cooling means for thevending machine. The machine includes a cover having a cavity forinsertion of ice or other cooling material. The cover includes a valvemember between said cavity and the interior of the cabinet, and thevalve member is utilized for controlling the flow of air therebetween,the valve being controlled by a thermo-responsive element which isresponsive to temperature changes in the interior of the cabinet.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of mydevice whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully. set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view of the vending machine of my invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the machine;

Figure 3 is a front view of the upperpa'rt of the machine with the coverthereof in open position;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken online 4--4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a top view of the main portion of the cabinet with the coverremoved, and taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 comprises a portion of the illustration of Figure 4, but withthe ejector means in a different position;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, on an enlarged scale,illustrating the ejector means in a still different position;

Figure 8 is a view on a slightly enlarged scale 5 taken on line 8-8 ofFigure 4;

Figure 9 is a view on a slightly reduced scale taken on line 9-9 ofFigure 8;

Figure 10 is a view of the rachet mechanism included in Figure 9, butisolated and in a different position;

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail view of that portion enclosed indot-dash lines and indicated by the reference numeral I I near the upperrighthand corner of Figure 8;

Figure 12 is a sectional view, taken on line |2.I2 of Figure 8;

Figure 13 is a view on an enlarged scale taken on line l3|3 of Figure 4;v

Figure 14 is a view taken on line I4l4 of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is an enlarged view taken on line l5l5 of Figure 9;

Figure .16 is a detail view of the mounting means for the lower shaftfor supporting the belts in the vending mechanism.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the vending machine of myinvention comprises a cabinet indicated as a whole at [2, including acabinet proper or main portion l4, and a cover IS. The main portion l4contains substantially all of the vending mechanism and control'mechanism therefor, and the cover l6 contains ice or other material forcoolin the interior of the cabinet.

The cabinet proper l4 comprises a front wall l8, and a rear wall 28, andside walls 22 and 24. The walls i8, 20, 22, and 24 are made up of a massof insulating material 28 which may be of any conventional form, eitherin blocks or loose form, covered by an outer sheet metal covering 28 andan inner sheet metal lining 30. The bottom is also covered by a sheetmetal element. The

interior of the cabinet includes a space referred to generally at 32,rectangular in horizontal crosssection, which has a round bottom 34 inthe form of a semi-cylinder connecting the vertical walls, the curvedportion being curved about anaxis extending transversely across themachine or between, the walls 22 and 24.

A dispensing station is formed in the main portion I4 of the cabinet andcomprises an opening 36 in the lining 38 and insulation of the frontwall l8, adjacent the top thereof. A door is hinged as at 38 fornormally closing the opening 36, and is free for swinging movement abouta horizontal axis; The door is preferably of insulating material toprevent heat from entering into the interior of the cabinet. The opening38 opens into a chute 40 formed in the wall l8 and at the inner endthereof extends substantially the full length transversely of theinterior space 32 (Figure 5) and inclines downwardly and outwardlyterminating at 42. The lower end of the chute 40 is closed by a slidedoor 44 having a handle 48 and slidable in a vertical slot 48 in thewall l8 of the cabinet. The door 44 also is made of insulating materialto prevent as much as possible heat from entering the interior of thecabinet. The slide door 44 slides freely in the slot 48 so that aconsumer can easily lift the door and so that the door will alwaysnormally remain closed.

The mechanism for supporting the articles to be vended includes ashell-like insert indicated generally at 58 and includes walls 52 and 54spaced transversely of the cabinet or between the walls 22 and 24 of thecabinet. The insert also includes walls 55 and 58 forming a rectangle,55 being the front wall and 58 the rear wall. The insert 50 is curved asindicated at 59 similarly to the bottom of the interior space 32 of thecabinet and, when the insert placed therein, the front and rear walls 55and 55 thereof fit snugly against the front and rear walls of theinterior space 32 and the bottom rounded portion also fits and conformsto the bottom rounded portion of the lining 30. Thus, the insert formswith the walls of the lining 30 in effect a single unitary wall. Thefront wall 55 of the insert is provided with an opening in register withthe opening 38. In the other direction, or transversely of the cabinet,the-walls 52 and 54 of the insert are spaced from the respective wallsof the lining 30.

A pair of vertically spaced shafts 51 and 58 are positioned in the space32 of the cabinet and extend transversely thereacross and through thewalls 52 and 54 of the insert. The upper shaft 51 is joumalled at itsleft end (Figure8) in a reinforcing plate and bearing 68 secured to thewall 52, and the opposite end extends through an opening in the wall 54beyond which the shaft is squared as indicated at 62. An enlarged stubshaft 64, provided with a squared hole for receiving the squared end 62of the shaft, is trunnioned in the wall 22 and is provided with areduced extension 86 formed on the opposite end thereof which extendsinto a cavity 88 formed in the wall 22 and opening upwardlly out of thewall. The lower shaft 58 may be supported in the walls 52 and 54 bymeans of reinforcing plates and trunnion bearings I0, one secured toeach of the walls of the insert (Figure 16).

Fixedly secured on each of the shafts 51 and 58 are a plurality ofroller means i2 and 14 respectively, the rollers 12 having sprocketteeth 16. If preferred, only certain ones of the rollers l2 may havesprocket teeth.

Trained over the pulley means 12 and 74 are two belt means 18 and 88.These belt means are each made up of a plurality of individual strands82 and 84, respectively, the strands in each belt being spaced apartaxially-along the shafts, leaving spaces 88 and 88 between strands ofthe respective belts. The strands forming the belts I8 and arepreferably formed of flexible steel tape, the ends of which may be spotwelded together and which thereby form continuous or endless belts overthe pulley means 12 and 14.

Secured to each of the belt means '18 and 80 are a plurality of shelvesor article supporting members 90 and'92 respectively. Each of theshelves 80 and 92 is in the shape of a U in section on a planeperpendicular to the shafts supporting the belts and includes a pair oflegs or flanges 94 and a web portion 96.,

The direction of rotation of the shafts and belt means is clockwise asviewed in Figures 4, 6, and

' 7, as indicated by the arrows, a feature which will be pertinent forfurther description of the mechanism and the operation thereof.

75 The shelves 98 and 82 are secured to the respective strands of thebelt means by spot welding the webs 98 thereof onto the strands. Theshelves are positioned on the belts so that on a straight run of thebelts the shelves are'disposed closely adjacent one another, withoutspaces therebetween, and with the flanges thereof substantially incontact with one another. welding preferably are provided between eachshelf and each of the strands forming the respective belt. The positionsof these points of welding are disposed adjacent the leg or flange 94which is in trailing position with respect to the direction of rotationof the belts, or as viewed more readily in Figure 7, at a point to theleft of center of the web 98, as indicated by the weld marks 98. Certainof these points of weld may be seen also in Figure 8. As a consequenceof the positioning of such points of weld, as the shelves travel overthe pulley means and particularly the pulley means I2, they do notassume a true radial position with respect to the pulleys but areslightly tangential; in other words, the shelves change position fromthe horizontal to an angular position at a time later than wouldotherwise occur, and assume the horizontal position on the opposite sideat a time later than would otherwise occur.

Each of the shelves 90 and 92 is provided with axially spaced slots I00which are in register with the spaces 88 and 88 between the strands ofthe respective belt means. The slots I00 are cut transversely across theU-shaped shelves and extend from near the terminal edge of one flange,through that flange across the web, and out to a point near the edge ofthe other flange.

The shelves 90 and 92 are of such length that they extend nearly intocontact with the walls 55 and 58 of the insert 50. Figures 4, 6, and 7illustrate ice cream bars I02 inserted in the U- Shaped shelves 90 and92. The shelves in the present instance are shaped to accommodate an icecream bar, although when other items are to be vended the shape of theshelves would, of course, conform to the shape of the particulararticles. The ice cream bars are retained in the U-shaped shelves 90 and92 by reason of the fact that the outer ends of the shelves are closelyadjacent the walls 55, 56 and 59 of the insert 50 so that when theshelves are in horizontal position or in vertical depending position,the walls 55 and 58 and the bottom curved interconnecting portion 59serve as a means for closing the outer ends of the shelves and formingcells.

A novel ejector means is positioned in the space surrounded by the runsof the endless belt. A transverse rod or bar I04 extends across themachine below the shaft 51 and parallel therewith, and below the pulleymeans thereon. A pair of diagonally disposed slots I08 are formed in thewalls 52 and 54, one end thereof being disposed adjacent the pulleymeans 12 and sloping downwardly and rearwardly therefrom. The bar-I04 isdisposed in and supported by the slots I06 and is thereby adapted toslide toward and from the opening 38 in the dispensing station. The endsof the bar I04 may have flattened ends to prevent its rotation in theslots I08.

Secured to and spaced along the bar I04 are a plurality of ejector barsI08, one being provided for each of the spaces 86 and 88 between thestrands of the belts, there being four ejector bars in the presentinstance. The ejector bars I08 are of a characteristic shape having areduced bottom portion fixed to the rod I04 as by welding,

These points .of

or by other suitable means. The upper portion of each ejector bar isenlarged, tapering toward its front end or the end directed toward theopening 38. The ejector bars I08 are adapted to extend into the openings88 and 88 between the strands of the belts and also through the spacesor cut-outs I00 in the shelves. The detail operation of this featurewill bereferred to later. Disposed below the bar I04 is a rock shaft IIOsupported in openings in the walls 52 and 54. Secured on the outer endsof the rock shaft IIO outwardly of the respective walls 52 and 54 arelever means II2 extending upwardly, the upper ends of which are formedwith fork elements I I4. The fork elements I I4 are adapted to flt overthe extended ends of the bar I04 for actuating the latter. The end ofthe rock shaft IIO extending through the wall 54 is squared as indicatedat II8 which is adapted to fit in a squared opening in an enlarged stubshaft II8 which is removably mounted for rocking movement in the wall 22of the cabinet. The far end of the stub shaft II8 extends into thecavity 88 Where it also is provided with a squared hole.

It will now be apparent that the insert 50 including the shelves forsupporting the articles to be vended, and the ejector means, can beremoved as a unit from the cabinet after first sliding the unit to theleft (Figure 8) to withdraw the shaft 58 and rock shaft I I0 from therespective enlarged shafts in the wall 22.

The mechanism for ejecting the ice cream bars from the device and forrotating the belt means for disposing successive shelves adjacent thedispensing station, is operated by a coin controlled manually operatedmember. Such manual operating member comprises a pull rod I20 having ahandle I22. The pull rod is inserted through an opening formed in thefront wall I8 and extends horizontally into the cavity 88 in the wall 22adjacent the top thereof. The inner end of the pull rod I20 is providedwith a tension spring I24, the opposite end of which is connected to therear wall of the cavity. The spring I24 biases the pull rod I20 inwardlyand normally holds it there for later operation.

A coin controlled mechanism indicated in its entirety at I28 is securedadjacent the top of the cavity 88 and adjacent the pull rod I20. Thecoin controlled mechanism referred to at I28 is a coin activator and isoperable to prevent unauthorized actuation of the member or pull rodI20. The pull rod I20 is provided with an extension extending into thecoin activator I28 in a conventional manner; The coin activator does notform a part of the present invention and any conventional type may beused, the requirement being that a coin is inserted by which the pullrod I20 is freed for actuation.

A latch dog I28, is pivoted on the inner end of the pull rod I20 and isbiased downwardly by a leaf spring I30 into engagement with an indexingratchet wheel I32. The ratchet wheel I32 is secured to the reducedextension 88 formed on the stub shaft 84 which actuates the upper shaft51. The ratchet wheel I32 is provided with plurality of teeth I34 havingsurfaces engageable, by .the spring pressed dog I28 for rotating theratchet wheel clockwise, as viewed in Figure 9. The shape of the teethI34 is such that, when the ratchet wheel has been rotated apredetermined and desired amount, one surface of the tooth following thetooth which is being actuated, engages the latch dog and disengages itfrom the latch 7 wheel. Referring particularly to Figures 9 and 10, eachlatch wheel tooth I34 consists of four surfaces, namely, I36, I38, I40,and I42. As illustrated in Figure 9, the outer end of the latch dog I28engages the surface I42 of any particular ratchet tooth. Thebottom'surface of the latch dog is also in engagement with the surfaceI36 of the following or'trailing tooth. After-the ratchet wheel has beenrotated from the position illustrated in-Figure 9 to the positionillustrated in Figure 10, the surface I38 oi. the trailing tooth engagesthe undersurface of the latch dog and raises the swinging end of thelatch dog out of engagement-with the surface I42 of the ratchet toothbeing acted upon. This position is illustrated in Figure 10 where it canbe seen that the swinging end of the latch dog is in engagement with thesurface I40 of the tooth being acted upon, whereby the latch dog willride upwardly along the surface I40 without any rotating effect on theratchet wheel.

The ratchet wheel I32 is prevented from rearward rotation by means of adetent I44, pivoted as indicated at I46 on a plate I48. The plate I48 isfor the purpose of inserting certain working parts which are attachedthereto to the cavity 68 for proper positioning of those parts. Aflexible member I50 is secured to the extremities of the legs of thedetent I44 and surrounds the hub I52 of the ratchet wheel, a tensionspring I54 being interposed in the flexible member. The lower end of thedetent I 44 being longer. it is biased inwardly into engagement with theratchet wheel, thereby preventing rotation of the ratchet wheel in theopposite direction. Rotation of the ratchet wheel I32 rotates the shaft51 which in turn causes the belt means 18 and 80 to rotate and carry theshelves 90 and 92 for the ice cream bars past the outlet 36 anddispensing station.

The ejector means I08 is operated by the pull rod I20 which is theoperating member for rotating the article supporting shelves. Theejector means is also actuated simultaneously with the actuation of thearticle supporting shelves 90 and 92. A lever I56, Figures 8 and 9,having a squared lateral extension I58 is provided in the cavity 68.

The squared extension I58 is inserted in the squared opening inthe endof the stub shaft II8 which extends into the cavity. Pivoted to thelower end of the lever I56 is connecting link I60, the other end of thelink I60 being pivoted to a vertically disposed lever I62 which ispivoted intermediate at its ends at I64 on the plate I48 which is fittedin the cavity 68. The lever I62 is disposed toward the rear of thecavity 68 or in the direction away from the front wall I8. Pivoted tothe upper end ofthe lever I62 which extends to the top of the cavity 68,is another link I66 which extends generally horizontally in the cavity68 and toward the front wall I8. The

swinging end of the link I 66 is provided in its under surface with anotch I68 which is adapted to engage a pin I10 on the pull rod I20. Aleaf spring I12 is fixedly secured to a bracket I14 which in turn issecured to the coin activator I26. The free end of the leaf spring I12bears downwardly on the link I66 in a channel I15 (Figure 15) formed byplates I16 secured to the link I66. The plates I 16 are provided withupstanding ears or lugs I11 (Figures 9 and 15) between which is secureda latch device I18. The latch device I18 includes a housing I19 in whichis a plunger having a reduced stem I80 extending out of the housing I18toward the observer of Figure. 9 (see also Figure 15) and an enlargedportion I82 adapted to extend out" of the housing andinto an opening I84formed in the wall I86 of the activator device 7 I26. A compressionspring I88 surrounds the reduced stem' I80 and biases the enlargedportion I82 of the plunger toward the wall of the coin activator.Normally, the leaf spring I12 biases the link I66 downwardly so that thenotch I68 in the latter engages the pin I on the pull 'rod '0 I20. Whenthe pull rod is actuated, the spring I12 rides in the channel I in thelink I66 in the sliding movements of the latter. The latch device I18 isdisposed above the spring I12. The pull ro'd I actuates the ratchetwheel I32 and the 1:, article supporting shelves as above described and,

at the same time, the link I66 pulls the lever I 62 and rotates thelatter clockwise (Figure 9); the lower end of the lever I62 is swung tothe left which, acting through the link I60 and the lever I56, rocks therock shaft I I 0 which in turn swings the arm II2 clockwise. The forkedextensions I being in engagement with the bar I04 slides the bar inthe'slots I06 forcing the ejector means I08 toward the opening 36.

The link I66 is provided with an extension cooperating with the coinactivator I26 whereby when the link I66 is in the normal positionillustrated in Figure 9 the coin actuator is fully effective forcontrolling the operation of the pull rod I20. However, when'the linkI66 is raised and held in raised position, it de-activates the coinactivator mechanism enabling the pull rod I20 to be operated without thenecessity of the insertion of a coin.

The cover I6 is formed in the same manner as the main portion I4 of thecabinet, having four walls in register with the four walls of the cab--inet, the front wall of the cover being designated as I92 which, ofcourse, is in register with 40 the front wall I8, and one side wall I94which is in register with the side wall 22 of the lower part of thecabinet. The walls and top of the cover are filled with insulationmaterial 26 and covered with an outer sheeting 28. The cover is providedwith an interior cavity I95 which substantially registers with thecavity 32. The cavity I95 is lined with a sheeting 30 similarly to thespace 32 in the lower part of the cabinet. The cover I6 of the cabinetwhen opened exposes the interior space 32 of the cabinet to the outsideupwardly of the cabinet.

Signal means iscarried by the cover I6 for in-'- dicating whether or notthe cabinet is empty of articles to be dispensed. A sight window isillustrated at I96 in the front wall I92 of the cover. Formed in thecover immediately behind the sight window I96 is a cavity I98 extendingfrom above the sight window I96 and surrounding it and terminating at apoint adjacent the bottom of the cover. A bracket 200 is fixed to theinner surface of the, sheet metal 28 of the cover, above the sightwindow I96, and is arranged for vertical sliding therein. A verticallydisposed rod 202is also disposed in said cavity and has its upper endsecured in the bracket 200. Fixed to the rod 202 are two verticallyspaced signal flags 203 and 204, adapted to be moved into register withthe sight window I96, the upper flag 203 indicating In use and the lowerflag 204 indicating Empty. The lower end of the rod 202 is provided witha stop washer and compression spring 205 and an enlargement 206 on therod therebelow (Figures 4, 12, 13 and 14).

A second cavity 208 communicates with the lower end of the cavity I88and extends rearwardly through the cover into communication with alarger cavity 2I0 which in turn is in alignment with the lower cavity 68formed in the wall 22 of the cabinet. A rod or elongated plate-likemember 2I2 is horizontally disposed in the cavity 208 and arranged forlimited sliding movement horizontally. The rod 2I2 is biased toward theright (Figures 4 and 14) by a tension spring 2I8. One 1 end of the rodor plate 2I2 is provided with a hole 2 (Figures 13 and 14) through whichthe lower enlarged end 206 of the vertical rod 202 is inserted. Theopposite end of the rod or platelike member 2I2 extends into the cavity2I0, and this end is provided with a depending lug 2I6 (Figures 4 and8). The lug 2I6 is adapted for engagement by an upwardly extending lever2I8 which is secured on a shaft 220. The shaft 220 is rockably supportedin the wall 22. The lever 2I8 is positioned in the cavity 68 and extendsup into the cavity H0, and the opposite end of the shaft 220 extendsthrough the wall 54 of the insert 50 where it has a downturned portion224. The lower end of the downturned portion 224 is disposed adjacentthe edge of the path of the shelves 80 near the top thereof. Adetachable trip member 226 is secured to one of the shelves 80 andadapted to trip the extension 224 of the shaft 220. Reference may be hadto Figure 11 for a detailed view of thetrip means 226. This trip meansmay consist of a metal block, one end of which is slotted, forming apair of legs 228. The legs 228 possess springing action and normally arebiased toward each other. The trip lug 226 may be detachably secured toany of the shelves 80 merely by inserting the legs 228 thereof over thelateral edge of one of the shelves.

A coin insert slot is indicated at 260 and disposed in the front wallI82 of the cover. A coin inserted in the slot 260 rolls down a coinchute 228 formed in the wall of the cover and then falls through slot262 into a coin ejector mechanism indicated at 264. The coin ejector 264is disposedand secured in the cavity 2I0 formed in the wall I84, thecavity 2I0 being in register with the cavity 68. The coin ejectormechanism 264 may be any of various conventional mechanisms on themarket and is for the purpose of ejecting spurious coins and slugs.Those items, when then ejected, are discharged into a chute 282 formedin the wall I8 of the main part of the cabinet, which leads down anddischarges into a coin receptacle 288. If the coin inserted is a genuinecoin, it passes through the coin ejector mechanism 264 and into the coinactuator mechanism I26 whereby operation of the machine can beaccomplished. When a. genuine coin is employed and the customer isenabled to actuate the pull rod and dispensing mechanism, the genuinecoin falls into a receptacle]. 284 which is inserted in the cavity 68 ina position below the coin activator I26, the receptacle 284 being heldin such position by a handle 286 having a turned over portion whichrests on the upper surface of the wall 22. The receptacle 284 can beremoved for removing the coins deposited therein.

If desired, the main portion I4 of the cabinet may be made higher andextend above the vending mechanism, and the cavity 68 extend high enoughthat the ejector 264 can be positioned within the cavity, together withthe coin activator and the other mechanisms.

I have provided novel means for cooling the interior of the vendingmachine. The cover I6 10 may be secured to the lower part of the cabinetas by hinges as illustrated in Figure 3. The cavity I86 is closed bymeans of a plate 231 which is hinged as indicated at 288 so as to fullycover the bottom or exposed portion of the cavity I86. Channel means 288is secured to the lining 80 of the cavity I86 (Figure 4), extending fromadjacent the upper part of the cavity downwardly and through cut-outportions 288 (Figure 3) in the plate 281 and terminates a short distancethereb elow. The channel means 288 are open on both endsand provide ameans for circulation of air between the space 82 in the lower part ofthe cabinet and the upper part of the cavity I86 in the cover. Securedon the upper surface of the plate 281 is a second plate 240 (Figures 4and 8) spaced upwardly slightly from the plate 281. The plate 240 issupported in its position by side vertical pieces 242, and the oppositesides are open as indicated at 244 in Figure 8. A block of ice is shownat 246 supported on the upper plate 240 and disposed in the cavity I85.Natural ice or Dry Ice, may be employed, the latter being preferred.

The lower plate 281 is provided with an opening 248. Secured to thelower edge of the plate 281 adjacent each end of the opening 248 is abearing means 250 adapted to support a valve means or closure member 262by means of shafts 254 extending into openings in the bearing members250. The valve means 252 may be a block of wood. or other relativelynonheat conducting material, and is adapted to be rotated into and outof position for closing the opening 248. As illustrated in Figure 4, theblock or valve member 262 is disposed so that when it is horizontal, theupper edge of the block is positioned adjacent the lower surface of theplate 281 so that, when the valve is actuated, it operates with a finercontrol for opening and closing the opening 248. A coiled, bimetallicthermo-responsive element 256 is fixedly secured to an anchoring member258 which is secured to the lower surface of the plate 281. The oppositeend of the bimetallic member 256 is secured to the adjacent shaft 254 ofthe closure member. Temperature changes in the space 82 of the lowerpart of the cabinet affect the bimetallic element which opens and closesthe valve closure member 252.

Use and Operation When a customer desires an ice cream bar or otherarticle, he inserts a coin in the coin slot 260 in the customary mannerand pulls outwardly on the manual pull rod I20. This operation rotatesthe ratchet wheel I82 which in turn rotates the shaft 51 and the beltmeans 18 and carrying the shelves 88 and 82 past the opening 86. Thesame operation actuates the ejector bars I08 in a manner describedabove, whereby the ejector bars are moved in a direction parallel withthe slots I06 toward the opening or outlet 86. The ejector bars thenextend through the spaces 86 and 88 between the strands forming thebelts and through the cut-out portions I00 in*the shelves. Figure 4illustrates one of the shelves 82 substantially in register with theopening 86, or in a position disposed generally in the same direction asthe ejector bars I08, and at a position just before reaching ahorizontal position at the right after completing a curved path over thetop. Shelves 80 are illustrated leading and trailing the shelf 82 whichis disposed adjacent the opening 86. The shelf 90 in register with theopening is supporting an ice cream I tension spring 2I3. 202, the uppersignal flag 203 indicates that the 6 illustrates the ejector bars fullyextended and the ice cream bar ejected. Upon release of the pull rodI20, it is retracted by the spring I24.

It will be noted that the ejector bars I00.

extend not only through the openings in the shelf from which the icecream bar is being ejected, but also as viewed in Figures 6 and 7,

through the openings in'the shelves therebelow.

The shelves below have already been emptied and all interference iseliminated between the ejector bars and any ice cream bars except theparticular one being ejected. After one operation is completed as abovedescribed, the next operation rotates the belts and shelves an extentequal to half the distance between successive shelves on one belt. Theshelves on the two belts I8 and 80 are in staggered relation withrespect to each other and are offset one-half the distance betweensuccessive shelves on one belt.

For purposes of convenience, the direction around the belt will bereferred to as a linear direction whether such direction is on either ofthe straight runs or around the curved runs over the pulleys.

When the serviceman wishes to fill the machine after it has beenemptied, he opens the top of the cabinet and raises the link I66. Whenthis link is raised, the plunger It! snaps into the hole I04 this alsoreleases the lever I62 from control of the pull rod. The service man canthen operate the pull rod and rotate the belts and shelves without theejector bars being operated, and it is also not necessary to place acoin in the machine to operate the pull rod. The serviceman then merelyrepeatedly actuates the pull rod rotating the belts and shelves andinserts ice cream bars in the various shelves as they pass across thetop.

The operation of my improved signal means is very eilectiveforindicating whether or not the machine is empty. As illustrated in Figure4, the rod 202 is retained in lowered position by the enlargement 206 inthe lower end thereof engaging the under surface of the end of the plate2I2 (Figures 14 and 15).

The plate 2I2 is retained toward the front of the cabinet by the In thisposition of the rod machine is in use or that there are yet articles tobe vended. Upon the plate 2I2 being actuated or drawn to the left(Figure 4), the hole 2 enables the enlarged portion 206 to pass throughthe hole 2 by means of the compression spring 205 biasing the rod 202upwardly. When the rod is then biased upwardly, the lower signal flag201 is brought in to registerwith the sight opening I96, this flaghaving an indication thereof that the machine is empty.

The plate or rod 2I2 is drawn to the left by means of the arm 2 I8 whichis fixed to the shaft 220. The trip means 226 engages the lowerextension 224 of the shaft 220 rotating the shaft counj terclockwise(Figure 4) and drawing the rod- 2I2 to the left.

The service man removes the trip lug 226 at the beginning of the fillingoperation and, when the .35 in the wall of the coin activator mechanismI26. The link when so raised releases the pull rod I20 1 from control ofthe coin activator mechanism;

machine is filled, he places the trip lug on that shelf which will belast to be emptied upon a complete cycle, whereupon the signal meanswill then be actuated to position the lower flag 204 at the sight windowI96.

It will be noted that the signal means prope Warm air from the space inthe cabinet passesupwardly through the channel means 238 into the upperpart of the cavity I in the cover. If the temperature is above thedesired point in the cabinet, the valve member 252 is opened by means ofthe thermo-responsive element 256, permitting cooled air to pass downinto the space in the cabinet, and when the temperature has been loweredto the desired point, the valve member is closed. Excessive melting ofthe cooling material 246 is thereby prevented and there are a minimum ofoperating parts for controlling the cooling of the space in the cabinet.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will beunderstood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto sincemany modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate by theclaims appended hereto to cover any such modifications or substitutionsof mechanical equivalents as fall within the true spirit and score of myinvention without sacrificing any of its advantages. 7

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates:

1. A vending machine comprising, in combination, a cabinet, shaftsrotatably mounted in the cabinet, an endless belt trained on and movablewith said shafts, a plurality of shelves on said endless belt, saidshelves adapted for supporting articles to be vended, said cabinethaving an outlet therein forming a dispensing station, an ejector bardisposed in the space surrounded by said endless belt, said shelveshaving openings therein, and a coin controlled operating memberextending to the exterior of the cabinet for actuating said ejector bar,said ejector bar on actuation thereof extending through one of saidopenings and ejecting an article from the respective shelf into saiddispensing station.

2. A vending machine comprising, in combination, a cabinet, shaftsrotatably mounted in the cabinet, an endless belt trained on and movablewith said shafts, a plurality of shelves secured to and extendingoutwardly from said endless belt, the sides and bottom of the interiorof said cabinet being U-shape and forming a wall cooperating with saidshelves to form cells, said shelves adapted for supporting articles tobe vended, said cabinet having an outlet therein forming a dispensingstation, an ejector bar disposed in the space surrounded by said endlessbelt, said shelves having openings therein, and a coin controlledoperating member extending to the exterior of the cabinet for actuatingsaid ejector bar, said ejector bar on actuation thereof extendingthrough one of said openings and ejecting an article from the respectiveshelf into said dispensing station.

3. A vending machine comprising, in combination, a cabinet with aninterior compartment having side walls and a rounded bottom, shaftsrotatably mounted in the upper and lower parts of said compartment, thelower shaft being positioned substantially at the axis of said rounded13 bottom, pulleys mounted on said shafts, an endless belt trained onsaid pulleys, a plurality of shelves secured to and extending outwardlyfrom said endless belt, the extended ends of said shelves being inproximity to said side walls and bottom to form cells for supportingarticles to be vended,

said cabinet having an outlet therein forming a dispensing station, saidshelves having openings therein, an ejector bar in the space surroundedby said endless belt and adapted to extend through said openings whenadjacent said dispensing station, and common actuating means foractuating said ejector bar and rotating said shafts.

4. In a vending machine, the combination comprising, a cabinet having anoutlet therein forming a dispensing station, a plurality of belts insaid cabinet, a plurality of shelves secured to each of said belts, saidshelves being adapted to support articles to be vended, means forsupporting and moving said belts whereby said shelves move past saiddispensing station, the shelves on respective belts being in staggeredrelation with respect to their movement past said dispensing station,ejector means operable in unison for entering the shelves on all of saidbelts and ejecting articles therefrom into said dispensing station, andmanual means for moving said belts and operating said ejector means.

5. In a vending machine, the combination comprising, a cabinet having anoutlet therein forming a dispensing station, a plurality of belts insaid cabinet, a plurality of shelves secured to each of said belts, saidshelves being adapted to support articles to be vended, means forsupporting and moving said belts whereby said shelves move past saiddispensing station, each of said shelves havin an opening therein,ejector means operable for extending through said openings and ejectingarticles from said shelves into said dispensing station, the ejectormeans for all of said belts being operable in unison, th shelves onrespective belts being in staggered relation with respect to theirmovement past said dispensing station and being so arranged that when ashelf is in position for discharge of the article therefrom into saiddispensin station, the shelves on the remaining belts which hav nextpreviously passed said dispensing station are empty, and means formoving said belts and operating said ejector means.

6. In a vending machine, the combination comprising a cabinet having anoutlet forming a dispensing station, an endless belt, a plurality ofshelves secured to said belt for supporting articles to be vended, saidbelt being movably mounted in the cabinet for carrying said shelves in apath past said dispensing station, a bar extending through the spacesurrounded by said belt and across the interior of the cabinet, thewalls of the cabinet having slots for receiving said bar and supportingthe latter for sliding movement toward and away from said dispensingstation, ejector means mounted on said bar, said ejector means beingoperable for ejecting articles from said shelves into said dispensingstation when said bar is moved toward the dispensing station, and commonoperating means for moving said belt and moving said bar.

'7. In a vending machine, the combination comprising, a cabinet havingan outlet forming a dispensing station, an endless belt composed of aplurality of strands of said belt in axially spaced relation, aplurality of shelves supported by said belt, each of said shelves beingsecured to all of said strands, said shelves having openings in l 14register with the spaces between said strands, said belt being supportedfor movement and carrying said shelves in a path past said dispensingstation, ejector means operable for extending through said spaces andsaid openings for ejecting the articles from said shelves into saiddispensing station, and means for operating said ejector means.

8. In a vending machine, th combination comprising, a cabinet, a pair ofvertically spaced shafts rotatably mounted in said cabinet, pulleyssecured to said shafts, an endless belt trained over said pulleys, saidbelt being adapted to travel in a path having straight runs and a curvedrun across the top, said cabinet having an outlet forming a dispensingstation positioned adjacent said curved run, a plurality of U-shapedmembers secured to said belt with the free ends of the flanges of themembers extending outwardly from the belt, said U-shaped members beingsecured to said belt at points adjacent the trailing flanges withrespect to the direction of travel of said belt, said members and belthaving openings therein, ejector means mounted in the space surroundedby said belt, said ejector means bein adapted to extend through saidopenings into said U-shaped members to eject articles therefrom intosaid dispensing station, said ejector means being adapted to extend intosaid members at a point in the travel of said belt adjacent the end ofits travel around said curved portion and being operable to ejectarticles from said members in a radial direction with respect to saidcurved portion, and means for operating said ejector means and forcausing travel of said belt.

9. In a vending machine, the combination comprising, a cabinet, a pairof vertically spaced shafts rotatably mounted in said cabinet, pulleyssecured to said shafts, an endless belt trained over said pulleys, saidbelt being adapted to travel in a path having straight runs and a curvedrun across the top, said cabinet having an outlet formin a dispensingstation positioned adjacent said curved run, a plurality of U-shapedmembers secured to said belt with the free ends of the flanges of themembers extending outwardly from the belt, said U-shaped members beingsecured to said belt at points adjacent the trailing flanges withrespect to the direction of travel of said belt, said members and belthaving openings therein, ejector means mounted in the space surroundedby said belt, said ejector means being adapted to extend through saidopenings into said U-shaped members to eject articles therefrom intosaid dispensing station, said ejector means being adapted to extend intosaid members at a point in the travel of said belt adjacent the end ofits travel around Said curved portion and being operable to ejectarticles from said members in a radial direction with respect to saidcurved portion, the actuation of said ejector means being simultaneouswith the travel of said shafts rotatably mounted in said cabinet,pulleysv secured to said shafts, an endless belt trained over saidpulleys, said belt being adapted to travel in a path having verticalstraight runs and a curved run across the top, said cabinet having anoutlet forming a dispensing station positioned adjacent said curved run,a plurality of shelves secured to said belt, said shelves and belthaving openings therein, ejector means mounted 15 in the spacesurrounded by said belt, said ejector means being adapted to extendthrough said openings into said shelves to eject articles therefrom intosaid dispensing station, said ejector means being adapted to extend intothespaces formed, by said shelves at a point in the travel of said beltadjacent the end of its travel around said curved portion and beingoperable to eject articles from said shelves in a radial direction withrespect to said curved portion, and means for operating said ejectormeans and for causing travel of said belt.

11. In a vending machine the combination comprising, a cabinet having anoutlet forming a dispensing station, a plurality of shelves mounted insaid cabinet for traveling in a path past said dispensing station,ejector means in said cabinet 'operable'for ejecting articles from saidshelves into said dispensing station, manual operating means, adapted tocause movement of said shelves in said path and to actuate said ejectormeans, a lever secured to said ejector means, alink pivotally secured tosaid lever and having a detachable connection with said operating means,means biasing said link into connection with said operating means, meansfor retaining said link out of connection with said operating means,

and coin controlled means for controlling said operating means.

12. In a vending machine the combination comprising, a cabinet having anoutlet forming a dispensing station, a plurality of shelves mounted insaid cabinet for traveling in a path past said dispensing station,ejector means in said cabinet operable for ejecting articles from saidshelves into said dispensing station, manual operating means adapted tocause movement of said shelves in said path, detachable connecting meansinterconnecting said operating means and said ejector means, and coincontrolled means for controlling said operating means, said detachableconnecting means being adapted to render said coin control mechanisminoperative for controlling operating means.

13. In a vending machine the combination comprising, a cabinet having anoutlet forming a dispensing station, a plurality of shelves mounted insaid cabinet for traveling in a path past said dispensing station,ejector means in said cabinet operable for ejecting articles from saidshelves into said dispensing station, a manual operating means adaptedto cause movement of said shelves in said path, detachable connectingmeans adapted to positively interconnect said operating means and saidejector means, and spring means biasing said connecting means intoconnecting position, and coin controlled means for controlling saidoperating means, said detachable connecting means being adapted torender said coin control means inoperative for controlling saidoperating means.

'14. In a vending machine, the combination comprising, a cabinet havinga dispensing station and a removable cover, the main portion of saidcabinet having an interior space, a plurality of article supportingmeans mounted in said space in the cabinet and adapted for travel in apath past said dispensing station, means for causing said members totravel in said path, means for j ejecting articles from said membersinto said said 1 adapted when the cover is closed to be positionedadjacent the path of said members, detachable trip means adapted to besecured to any of said members, said trip means being adapted to actuatesaid extension of said'signal means at a predetermined point in the pathof travel of said members.

15. In a vending machine, the combination comprising a cabinet having anoutlet forming a dispensing station, an endless belt, a plurality ofshelves secured to said belt for supporting articles to be vended, saidbelt being movably mounted in the cabinet for carrying said shelves in apath past said dispensing station, a bar extending through the spacesurrounded by said belt and across the interior of the cabinet, meansfor mounting said bar for reciprocatory movement toward and away fromsaid dispensing station, ejector means mounted on said bar, said ejectormeans being operable for ejecting articles from said shelves into saiddispensing station when said bar is moved toward the dispensing station,and common operating means for moving said endless belt and moving saidbar.

16. In a vending machine, the combination comprising, a cabinet, a pairof vertically spaced wardly from the belt, said belt and U-shapedmembers having registering openings therein, ejector means mounted inthe space surrounded by said belt and in a position normally below saiddispensing station, means for mounting said ejector means forreciprocatory movement upward and toward and downward and away from saiddispensing station, said ejector means being adapted, on movement towardsaid dispensing station, to extend through said openings into saidU-shaped members to eject articles therefrom into saiddispensing.station,. said ejector means being adapted to extend intosaid members at a point in the travel of said belt adjacent the end ofits travel around said curved portion and being operable to ejectarticles from said members in a radial direction with respect to saidcurved portion, and means for operating said ejector means and forcausing travel of said belt.

17. In a vending machine, the combination, comprising, a cabinet havingan opening forming a dispensing station, a pair of vertically spacedshafts rotatably mounted in said cabinet, pulleys secured to saidshafts, an endless belt trained over said pulleys, a plurality ofshelves having openings therein secured to said belt, said shelves beingadapted to support articles to be vended, said belt being adapted tocarry said shelves in a path past said dispensing station, ejector meansdissaid ejector means being mounted for movement toward said dispensingstation and through the dispensing station, said cover of the cabinethav-' 1 ing a sight window, signal means mounted in and carried by saidcover, said signal means being movable into and out of position inregister with said opening, said signal having an extension openings insaid shelves for ejecting articles from said shelves into saiddispensing station, a shaft rockably mounted in the cabinet, meansinterconnecting said rock shaft and said ejector means for moving saidejector means inresponse to rocking said shaft, and common operatingmeans for rotating said rotatable shafts and rocking said rock shaft.

18. In a vending machine, the combination comprising, a cabinet havingan opening forming a dispensing station, a pair of vertically spacedshafts rotatably mounted in said cabinet, pulleys secured to saidshafts, an endless belt trained over said pulleys, a plurality ofshelves having openings therein secured to said belt, said shelves beingadapted to support articles to be vended, said belt being adapted tocarry said shelves in a path past said dispensing station, ejector meansdisposed in the area surrounded by said endless belt, said ejector meansbeing mounted for movement toward said dispensing station and throughthe openings in said shelves for ejecting articles from said shelvesinto said dispensing station, a shaft rockably mounted in the cabinet,means interconnecting said rock shaft and said ejector means for movingsaid ejector means in response to rock ing said shaft, a ratchet wheelsecured to one of said rotatable shafts, a horizontal pull rod slidablymounted in said cabinet, latch means connected with said pull rodengageable with said ratchet wheel, said rotatable shafts being rotatedin response to sliding of said pull rod, and detachablemeansinterconnecting said pull rod and said rock shaft, said rock shaftbeing rocked in response to sliding of said pull rod.

19. In a vending machine, the combination, comprising, a cabinet havingan opening forming a dispensing station, a pair of vertically spacedshafts rotatably mounted in said cabinet, pulleys secured to saidshafts, an endless belt trained over said pulleys, a plurality ofshelveshaving openings therein secured to said belt, said shelves being adaptedto support articles to be vended, said belt being adapted to carry saidshelves in a path past said dispensing station, ejector means disposedin the area surrounded by said endless belt, said ejector means beingmounted for movement toward said dispensing station and through theopenings in said shelves for ejecting articles from said shelves intosaid dispensing station, a shaft rockably mounted in the cabinet, meansinterconnecting said rock shaft and said ejector means for moving saidejector means in response to rocking said shaft, a lever arm secured tosaid rock shaft, a ratchet wheel secured to one of said rotatableshafts, a horizontal pull rod slidably mounted in said cabinet, latchmeans connected with said pull rod engageable with said ratchet wheel,said rotatable shafts being rotated in response to sliding of said pullrod, and detachable means interconnecting said lever arm and said pullrod, said lever arm being actuated and thereby said rock shaft beingrocked in response to,

sliding of said pull rod.

20. A vending machine comprising, in combination, a cabinet having anoutlet forming a dispensing station, an endless belt having a pluralityof shelves secured thereto for containing articles to be vended, saidbelt being movable to move said shelves in a path past said dispensingstation, an ejector bar in the space surrounded by said endless belt,said ejector bar being reciprocable toward and away from said dispensingstation and operable to eject articles from said shelves into saiddispensing station, common operating means for moving said belt apredetermined amount and moving said ejector bar toward said dispensingstation, said ejector bar being moved toward said dispensing stationduring movement of said belt, said belt and ejector bar terminatingmovement simultaneously, and means for retracting said ejector bar awayfrom said dispensing station.

21. In a vending machine, the combination comprising, a cabinet havingan outlet forming a dispensing station, a pair of shaft and pulley meansrotatably mounted in the cabinet, an endless belt trained on saidpulleys, a plurality of U-shaped members secured to said belt with thefree ends of the flanges of the members extending outwardly from thebelt, said members being disposed, with respect to straight. lineardirection of said belt, without spaces therebetween, said members beingadapted for supporting articles to be vended, said belt being movable tocarry said members in a path past said dispensing station, ejector meansin the space surrounded by said endless belt, said members havingopenings therein, said ejector'means being movable through said openingsfor ejecting articles from said members into said dispensing station,and common operating means for moving said belt and moving said ejectormeans.

CLEMENT G. EWER'IZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,697,306 Cutler Jan. .1, 19291,946,078 Kelley Feb. 6, 1934 1,963,674 Pearsons June 19, 1934 1,974,800Link et al Sept. 25, 1934 2,222,862 Tratsch Nov. 26, 1940 2,285,068Titus June 2, 1942 2,285,435 Holcomb 'June 9, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 3,169 Great Britain 1895 474,411 France 1914 179,342Switzerland 1935 89, 77 Great Britain 193s

